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South Africa’s water crisis is well-documented, with surface water resources under immense pressure from overuse, pollution and climate change. There is another critical water source that often goes unnoticed, however: groundwater. This underground reservoir, accessed through boreholes and springs, serves as a vital backup to the country’s primary water supply and is increasingly becoming a …
JOHANNESBURG: Proteas Men’s fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has been ruled out of next month’s two- match Test series against West...
The taxi is being piloted by AfriPaw and is aimed at providing access to its free monthly animal clinics for pets living in poor communities like Vrygrond
Africa Data Centres (www.AfricaDataCentres.com), a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has announced it is expanding its CPT1 facility in Cape Town.
This expansion shows the data centre giant adding three new state-of-the-art halls in new areas on the campus and adds another 6MW of IT load, effectively doubling its current capacity. The new expansion was implemented with support from the United States through an up to $300 million loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to Africa Data Centres.
According to Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO of Cassava, “This expansion by Africa Data Centres is in response to the increasing demand for co-location capacity in South Africa. Not only is Cape Town the second largest economy in South Africa, but it is also the de facto software and technology hub in Southern Africa.”
The company is seeing tremendous growth in the data centre market in South Africa generally, as both national and international cloud and IT service providers seek to expand their footprints in the region.
In terms of size, the expansion adds 1000 racks of white space or the space available for customers to lease, although the physical site is significantly larger than that. It is made up of two more colocation data halls and one hyperscale hall.
The additional halls are built in the cutting-edge modular design pioneered by Africa Data Centres, which enables rapid scalability and a modern design that allows the facility to be populated as and when required to suit the needs of the customer.
Pemhiwa says this would not have been possible without the support of the Ministry of ICT, Western Cape Provincial Government and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development. “I would like to acknowledge their ongoing support, as we expand our data centre facilities in South Africa.”
The new halls feature the same cutting-edge security standards and focus on the elements that matter most to clients, including scalability, flexibility, and energy efficiency, to bring world-class, affordable solutions to all its clients in the area. This data centre is highly flexible and designed to accommodate different and evolving customer demands.
Additionally, this data centre boasts hybrid cooling technology capable of handling both air cooling and liquid cooling. Despite its versatility, no compromises were made on efficiency. It is one of the most efficient and sustainable data centres ever built in South Africa. It is powered by renewable energy, boasts a Water Usage Effectiveness of 0 due to no water consumption for the IT infrastructure, and has an impressive Power Usage Effectiveness rating as well.
The Africa Data Centres' CPT1 facility is at the forefront of pioneering the use of wheeled solar power in the market. This innovation is enabled through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed in March last year with Distributed Power Africa, part of the Cassava Technologies group. Africa Data Centres is the first company to successfully implement this groundbreaking technology in Africa, marking it the continent's first project of its kind.
“The introduction of wheeled solar power at the CPT1 facility offers significant benefits to our' customers, providing a truly sustainable data centre solution. As the demand for data continues to skyrocket across Africa, a continent where power supply is often intermittent, the need for reliable, cost-effective, and green power has never been more critical,” said Finhai Munzara, Interim CEO of Africa Data Centres.
By harnessing renewable energy, he says the CPT1 facility not only ensures consistent power supply but also supports sustainable operations, helping customers achieve their environmental goals. “Our state-of-the-art facility reduces reliance on non-renewable energy sources, setting a new standard for sustainability in the data centre industry.”
Munzara adds that Cape Town is an excellent location for colocation facilities as it is a stone's throw away from all the submarine cable landing stations. In addition, the Cape Town facility houses the Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX), which makes multi-region peering more accessible, efficient, and easy to manage. This also facilitates direct connections between networks, enabling data to flow more efficiently and reducing latency, giving our users a faster, more responsive online experience.
In ending, Munzara says the expansion increases the capacity of the company's data centres in South Africa and it is an integral part of its investment plans to deliver several additional data facilities across the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Data Centres.
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About Africa Data Centres:
Africa Data Centres owns and operates Africa's largest network of interconnected, carrier and cloud-neutral data centre facilities. Bringing international experts to the pan-African market, Africa Data Centres is a trusted partner for rapid and secure data centre services and interconnections across Africa. Strategically located in South, East and West Africa our world-class data centre facilities provide a home for all business-critical data for Africa's small, medium and large enterprises and global hyper scale customers. https://www.AfricaDataCentres.com/
Case postponed to 31 July
Head of Department claims the Auditor-General has distanced itself from previous statements to GroundUp. The Auditor-General says this is not true
Department works to secure water for all
The Ministry and Department of Water and Sanitation, under the new administration, has committed to continue to ensure the implementation of all water projects without delay, and improved water and sanitation services.
Giving an update on the progress made in the water projects, which were previously delayed, Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisani Mavasa said in order to ensure water security, government is focusing on investing in additional national water resource infrastructure. This includes building awareness of the need to use water sparingly, and improving municipal water and sanitation services.
Mavasa acknowledged that in the past, water projects have been subjected to unacceptable delays.
However, good progress has since been made in recent years in unblocking and accelerating the delayed projects.
She highlighted that there are currently 14 major national water resource infrastructure projects valued at more than R100 billion, which are in different stages of implementation around the country.
Among the projects which have been unblocked, include the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase Two, uMkhomazi Water Project and the raising of the wall of the Hazelmere Dam in KwaZulu Natal, construction of Ntabelanga Dam on the uMzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape.
This also includes the raising of the Clanwilliam Dam wall in Western Cape, the Giyani Water Supply Project in Limpopo, and the Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Project in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
“In addition to unblocking and accelerating these projects, Parliament recently passed the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency Bill, which will result in the establishment of an agency with a balance sheet which will enable substantially more funds to be raised for investment in national water resource infrastructure,” Mavasa said.
Water supply disruptions
Mavasa noted an increase in water supply disruptions in Gauteng and in eThekwini, which has resulted in hardship for residents.
According to the department, the demand for water in both areas is largely due to population growth.
The growth in demand was anticipated by planners, and new national water resource infrastructure projects were planned to meet it, unfortunately, the start of the projects was delayed.
“The new Polihali Dam and associated infrastructure, which is part of Phase Two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, was due to be completed in 2019 to enable additional water to be supplied to the Integrated Vaal River System, which in turn is the main source of water for Gauteng.
“This project was unblocked, and the main contracts were all awarded in October 2022 and construction is now fully underway and is due to be completed by 2028.
“Similarly, the start of the uMkhomazi project to supply additional water to eThekwini and surrounding municipalities was delayed by nine years, due to concerns about its affordability in terms of the tariffs that would have to be charged to the residents of eThekwini. The affordability problem was resolved in 2023 with the approval by National Treasury of an application by DWS, with the support of the Presidential Infrastructure Fund, for a blended finance solution for the funding of the project which made the tariff more affordable,” she explained.
Among the solutions reached included a 25% interest-free loan and a 25% grant from the national fiscus, and this enabled the eThekwini Municipal Council to approve the water supply agreement on 31 January 2024.
The department has now started to raise the finance for the project and to commence with implementation. Work on the design of the dam and tunnel for the uMkhomazi project has started.
The department also noted the delays in a project to raise the Hazelmere Dam wall to further increase water supply to eThekwini Municipality and surrounding areas in KwaZulu-Natal, which started in 2011. This was due to contractual disputes between the department and the main contractor.
“The contract with the main contractor was terminated in 2018, resulting in a halt to the project. This was resolved in 2021, and the project was completed in 2023.”
Ntabelanga and Clanwilliam Dam upgrades
The department further noted that the construction of Ntabelanga Dam on a tributary of the uMzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape, which was planned to provide additional water for domestic and irrigation use was delayed because the department was unable to successfully motivate for a budget to be allocated to the project.
“The department resolved this blockage in 2023, by reconfiguring the project to reduce its cost while still providing the same benefits. The reconfiguration involved adopting a brown fields approach to water services infrastructure rather than the previous green fields (upgrading existing bulk water supply infrastructure rather than build new infrastructure).
“The reconfiguration of the project resulted in a decrease in the cost of the project from R18 billion to R8 billion, and National Treasury then agreed to fund the reconfigured project from the fiscus. As a result, site preparations and the process to obtain the license to construct the dam are currently underway and construction of the dam wall will commence by October 2024.”
A project to raise the wall of the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape, resulting in a tripling of the volume of water than can be stored in the dam, was also started in 2013, but the implementation of the project was delayed due to budget constraints and several changes in construction approach.
As a result, by 2023 the project was only 10% complete. The delays have since been addressed, and the project is now fully funded and major construction work is currently underway.
Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply project
The major Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply project to increase water supply to Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga and the Moutse-East area under the Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo, has since been unblocked with construction having begun in 2022.
The project was originally planned to commence in 2019 but was delayed because of funding constraints and poor planning by the department.
The construction of a new bulk pipeline from Loskop Dam in Mpumalanga to Thembisile Hani Local Municipality and associated infrastructure is also underway.
Giyani Water Supply project
The Giyani Water Supply Project, which has been delayed for many years, and been the subject of investigations by the Special Investigations Unit, has since been unblocked and accelerated over the last two years.
Mavasa highlighted that the main bulk pipeline from Nandoni Dam to Nsami Dam near Giyani was completed last year, and projects are currently underway to refurbish and increase the capacity of the Giyani Water Treatment Works and to install bulk reticulation lines, bulk reservoirs, service reservoirs and reticulation to households.
“Water has started to flow to households in nine of villages in Giyani and we will strive to ensure a further 15 villages receive water by the end of August this year, and that a further 31 villages receive water within the next two years.”
Water Services Amendment Bill
In addition to assisting municipalities to improve their water and sanitation infrastructure, the department has proposed amendments to the Water Services Act, to address the poor municipal performance illustrated by the results of the Blue, Green and no Drop reports which were issued in December 2023.
“The Water Services Amendment Bill will be submitted to Cabinet shortly for approval for it to be tabled in Parliament.”
Improvement in issuing of water use licence
Meanwhile, the department’s turnaround plan for the issuing of water use licences has seen an improvement in performance from 35% of applications being processed within 90 days to 70% being processed within 90 days.
“In addition, the backlog of more than a thousand applications has been largely eradicated, with no more than 100 applications which have taken longer than 90 days to process,” Mavasa said.
The department has committed that further improvement towards the President’s 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) target of processing all applications within 90 days, will be achieved during this financial year. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 07/24/2024 - 10:53
SA committed to addressing climate change
The signing of the Climate Change Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa into law, demonstrates South Africa’s commitment to address and respond to the global phenomenon that involves long term shifts in temperatures and general weather patterns.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has welcomed the new law which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa’s fair contribution to the global climate change response.
“The President’s signing of the climate Change Bill into law marks a significant milestone in our nation's commitment to addressing climate change. This legislation provides a comprehensive framework for climate action across all our society and economy. We are now poised to move forward with its implementation,” George said on Wednesday.
The law also sets out to enhance South Africa’s ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.
The Act will strengthen coordination between national sector departments and provide policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
“Through the Act, we aim to show leadership and we look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure its equitable and ambitious implementation,” the Minister said.
Some of the key provisions of the Act include:
• Mitigation: Establishing a national greenhouse gas (GHG) emission trajectory, requiring several Ministers to develop and implement measures to address climate change through sectoral emission targets, and mandating major emitting companies to comply with mandatory carbon budgets.
• Adaptation: Involving cooperation with provincial and local governments and communities to address climate adaptation challenges.
The Act, in addition to establishing new processes and institutional arrangements, formalises and integrates existing measures to address both mitigation and adaptation.
It also provides a “coordinated and integrated response by the economy and society to climate change and its impacts in accordance with the principles of cooperative governance,” in line with South Africa’s 2011 National Climate Change Response Policy.
The Minister has commended the role played by all South Africans in the formulation of the Act.
“As we implement the Act, we welcome the active engagement of citizens, workers and businesses, to move to low-emissions and climate resilient development,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 07/24/2024 - 11:08
Keeping the Madiba Magic alive
by More Matshediso
A women-led community development project is keeping the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela alive by educating children, and providing entrepreneurship and employability skills to women, youth and persons living with disabilities in the North West.
Tshwaraganang Barolong Project (TBP) is a non-profit organisation (NPO) that was established in 2001 in Motsitlane section near Madibogo village.
The organisation’s chairperson Mapule Lebakaeng said the organisation initially specialised in equipping women with knitting, sewing and upholstery skills to help fight against unemployment and poverty.
“I was inspired to gather a group of women in my village to start the organisation more than 20 years ago. I had just returned from working in Johannesburg then, and I wanted to share my skills with other women and reduce unemployment and poverty in our village,” she said.
Years later, the organisation started to offer early childhood development (ECD) services to five wards in the rural Ratlou Local Municipality, thanks to the support from the National Development Agency (NDA).
In 2015, the NDA identified TBP as an implementing source for its early childhood development (ECD) campaign. It funded the organisation with R914 000 to buy a fully resourced truck that travels to rural areas within the local municipality without access to ECD services.
“Our mobile truck travels to five wards within the municipal area on a daily basis, to offer two hours of learning sessions to children between the ages of one and five years old. The plan is to prepare them for formal schooling and to perform in the learning environment,” explained Lebakaeng.
For the ECD programme, Lebakaeng said the organisation works in partnership with traditional leaders to identify families that need the educational services. About 360 children are currently benefitting from the programme.
“We target 40 children a day and we provide learning sessions for two hours, including nutritious meals because most of our learners come from impoverished families,” she said.
Education, a tool to end poverty
Lebakaeng reminded citizens that Tata Nelson Mandela saw education as a tool that could end poverty, inequality and unemployment in society.
“I encourage women to start ECD centres, especially in rural areas and informal settlements because every child has a right to education and they should not be denied opportunities based on their circumstances,” she pleaded.
Lebakaeng said the organisation currently has six permanent members but it continues to empower unemployed women, youth and persons with disabilities with clothing manufacturing skills and to start their own ECD centres.
“Since inception to date, more than 500 community members have acquired various skills from our project. Some of them benefitted from skills that enabled them to start their own businesses while many young people were able to find employment after working with us on the project,” she explained.
She added that a few years after establishing the project, TBP ventured into manufacturing uniforms for a variety of local clients including schools, churches and stockvels because local women had acquired the necessary skills.
“Among other things, we make and sell jerseys and traditional wear, and we offer embroidery services as well. We also produce fruit juice and cleaning products,” she said.
The organisation has so far received funding and support from various government departments and State-owned- entities.
In 2003, the then Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) built the NPO a new nine-room structure including a kitchen, sewing room, knitting room, store room, chemical room and two toilets.
In 2006, the NDA funded the organisation with R833 380 to buy industrial sewing machinery, a delivery bakkie, two overlocking machines, an embroidery machine, a fridge, and the raw materials needed for sewing, cleaning and knitting.
In the same year, the then Department of Employment and Labour and the NDA provided the women with various training programmes including networking, book-keeping, financial, project and conflict management, as well as how to bid for tenders to supply their clients with uniforms.
In April 2021, the project successfully applied for another grant worth R396 502.70 from the NDA to expand their sewing and material production, and procured four additional sewing, knitting and overlocker machines, an embroidery machine, raw chemical products and renovation of the existing operational premises.
For more information about the NDA visit www.nda.org.za Visit www.labour.gov.za if you need information about the Department of Employment and Labour.
*This story first appeared in Vukuzenzele
Janine
Wed, 07/24/2024 - 12:09
What's your flavour?
A venture that started as a passion project for creating ice cream recipes to indulge friends and family during a difficult period in the life of a former architect, has evolved into a successful artisanal ice cream business.
With a presence at various SUPERSPAR outlets, popular stockists, hotel groups and high-end restaurants, the Johannesburg-based business plans to grow its customer base to offer premium ice cream to consumers in various cities in the country.
Established in 2019 by Kamal Manilal, Roska Artisan Ice Cream has experienced a steady growth, enabling it to employ 12 people.
Manilal started making ice cream in his home with an ice cream machine he had received as a gift from a friend 14 years prior.
“Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, I was going through a rough patch in my career. There were quite a few retrenchments that were being implemented. It was a very taxing time in my life as I had just lost my father.”
At the time, he had also recently completed his Master of Business Administration.
“One morning as I was on Facebook and a picture of an ice-cream machine appeared on my feed.”
This inspired Manilal to use his ice-cream maker and explore recipes.
“I started making ice cream and I took it to work for tasting. I started getting orders,” he said.
In March 2020, Manilal posted pictures of the ice cream on Instagram, which generated interest from consumers. This move took his business to greater heights.
“Before I knew it, I was making ice-cream at home. In October 2021, I realised that I needed more space so I decided to move into a commercial property to start making ice cream on a bigger scale. Since that time, we have on-boarded 140 customers and we are now in our second premises because we outgrew the first premises,” he said.
The journey of building Roska Artisan Ice Cream has not been easy as there were hurdles that the business had to overcome.
“The biggest challenge is cash flow. To start the business, we needed to have an investor to fund freezer rooms, generators and facilities. Cash flow is very important because sometimes you are not paid on time but the business still needs to cover the expenses for production, rental and utilities. We also used our corporate savings to fund the business to buy the machines that we needed,” he said.
Manilal co-founded the business with his wife Roshni Morar, who has played a fundamental role in positioning the business's brand.
With capital being essential in running a business, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) funded the expansion and growth of the business for about 30% while a private investor paid for the rest.
“The highlight of our journey has been moving into our second premises. We have proper facilities that include offices, freezer rooms for storage, and an industrial generator. When we showcased the product at the Paris Food Show, the chief executive officer of Checkers saw our product and offered our company an opportunity to work with them. We now have a store inside the Checkers Hyper in Sandton City,” he concluded.
For more information about Roska Artisan Ice Cream visit www.roska.co.za. Log on to www.thedtic.gov.za if you would like to find out about financial assistance for your business.
*This story first appeared in Vukuzenzele
Janine
Wed, 07/24/2024 - 12:14
“Certificate of Need” scheme thrown out of National Health Act
Shining a light into entrepreneurship
by Sinovuyo Mfiki
Meet Makatu Tshi-vhula, a young entrepreneur who went from working at a candle manufacturing factory to owning one.
The 26-year-old from Soweto is the founder of The Light Candles, a company he started in February 2020. Their catalogue ranges from regular household to fancy scented candles. His candles are popular among churches, traditional healers and event organisers.
After working for a candle-making company for five months, he used his newly found skills and knowledge to manufacture and distribute candles to his community and courier to other provinces.
He said he was determined to start his own candle-making business after working at the factory and acquiring the skill.
However, he concedes that the journey has not been smooth-sailing, having had to overcome numerous challenges. Chief among these were funding and access to markets through distribution channels.
“Currently it has been four years since I started the business, and it is growing stronger by the month. There are now more people who know about The Light Candles. I get over a mountain, and a new mountain appears, so I have been taking it one day at a time and it has been going quite well,” Tshivhula said.
What sets The Light Candles apart in the market is that they can makes up to thirty different colours. “Moreover, The Light Candles products last up to twelve hours whilst other brands last between six and seven hours," continued Tshivhula.
“From the idea of candle production, you need to have an idea of the type of candles you want to make, and you must look at what type of mould you want to have." There are diverse types of moulds, such as the human body figure, a car, cake, and moulds of a heart.
Furthermore, different shapes and sizes of moulds can be fragranced.
The process of moulding a candle includes melting solid wax and pouring it into a mould of your preference while it is still hot.
“After a few hours you have a fully functioning candle,” he explained.
With South Africa celebrating Youth Month in June, Tshivhula said there should be a spotlight on young entrepreneurs for their businesses to be given exposure.
“Young people play a huge role in the economy... We might not be making a lot of money, but it is a step in the right direction,” he concluded.
For more information about The Light Candles, contact Makatu Tshivhula on 079 320 4106 or email him on makatutshivhula@gmail.com. You can also visit The Light Candles page on Facebook. You can also follow @lightcandlesza on Instagram.
*This story first appeared in Vukuzenzele
Janine
Wed, 07/24/2024 - 12:18
National Small Enterprise Amendment Act touted as gamechanger
The signing into law of the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to revolutionise the small business ecosystem.
“We are confident that the National Small Enterprise Act, as amended, will turn the tide in favour of small enterprises, by levelling the playing fields and enabling the provision of more integrated and effective financial and non-financial support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and co-operatives,” Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said on Tuesday.
The Act establishes the Office of the Enterprise Ombuds Service, redefines and simplifies the term “small enterprises” and empowers the Minister to declare certain trading practices in relation to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as unfair trading practices.
This streamlines the support services that government provides to MSMEs to broaden their participation in the economy in line with government’s commitment towards placing MSMEs at the centre of the reconstruction and recovery of the economy.
The new Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA) will drive economic transformation and inclusive growth in the economy through ensuring the provision of customised financial and non-financial support for MSMEs and cooperatives to enable them to play a strategic role in the value chains of various sectors of the economy.
“The Act also provides for the establishment of the Office of the Small Enterprise Ombud Services which will serve as an impartial mediator in the disputes, especially for small enterprises, thereby avoiding costly litigation processes.
“The lack of effective and affordable access to a justice mechanism for small enterprises has been a matter of grave concern to all in the small enterprise eco-system. Business-to-business disputes and the late and nonpayment of legitimate invoices remain a significant reality in the lives of small enterprises and cooperatives, with very real implications for their growth and sustainability,” the Minister said.
MSMEs will now avoid the litigation route, which is wearisome and costly, and use the alternative dispute resolution mechanism of the Ombud.
“The determinations by the Ombud will be mandatory and binding. The provision will still be made within the act for review specifically on the grounds of illegality, procedural unfairness; or irrationality, thus still protecting the constitutional rights of all persons involved,” she said.
Unfair Trading Practices
The Act also enables the Minister to declare certain trading practices in relation to small enterprises as unfair trading practices on recommendation of the Ombud.
“It sets the parameters and procedures in terms of which the Minister, by notice in the Gazette, may declare certain practices in relation to small enterprises to be prohibited unfair trading practices.
“The unfair trading practices relate to exclusionary compliance requirements for small enterprises, retrospective changes to contracts, ambiguous contracts, sudden and unjustified termination of a commercial relationship or termination without reasonable notice to MSMEs and Cooperatives,” Ndabeni-Abrahams said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 07/24/2024 - 14:16
Johannesburg – 24 July 2024 – The Siyavela Impact Program, an initiative to support leaders across the corporate social investment and nonprofit sectors, launched with a spirited sundowner event at Emzini Restaurant in Westdene, Johannesburg, on Monday 22 July. The launch event brought together leaders from across the corporate world, nonprofit bodies and grassroots community …
Dear Editor The DA welcomes the Gauteng High Court ruling that Certificates of Need (CONs) in the National Health Act (Clauses 36 – 40) are unconstitutional. It is important to note that the ruling now has to go to the Constitutional Court for confirmation. The Act uses CONs to determine whether health practitioners may establish …
President outlines process to establish SOEs Holding Company
With government moving full steam ahead with plans to establish a holding company for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has been assigned the responsibility to finalise the processes.
“The SOEs that were previously under the stewardship of the Department of Public Enterprises will report to their respective line departments in terms of policy and regulatory matters,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday in Parliament.
Responding to the debate on the Presidency Budget Vote speech, the President reiterated that government is introducing legislation to establish a state-owned holding company to oversee and coordinate key strategic SOEs.
“The legislation will assign the functions of the holding company, which will cover issues of governance, financial management, remuneration standards and similar matters.
“This is in line with global best practice and is the approach taken by many countries with SOEs that successfully fulfil a social and economic development mandate.
“While some in this House might be dismissive of the work being coordinated in the Presidency, let us not lose sight of what these measures mean for the everyday lives of South African citizens. They mean more affordable and reliable electricity, cleaner water, efficient trains and lower data costs,” President Ramaphosa said.
Meanwhile, turning to other issues, the President said with just a small team of dedicated officials in the Presidency and National Treasury working closely with a wide range of government departments and entities, the President said the reforms implemented through Operation Vulindlela have had a measurable impact on growth and investment.
“These structural reforms are in the most strategic and critical sectors of our economy, as I indicated yesterday. They are in energy, in logistics, in telecommunications, in visa reform and in water.
“The reforms that are underway in the water sector – like reinstituting water quality monitoring systems, developing a raw water pricing strategy, and establishing a Water Partnerships Office to develop water infrastructure – have direct and material benefits for service delivery,” the President said.
Improved water infrastructure ensures more reliable and sustainable water supply while water quality management systems mean cleaner water and a reduced health risk.
“The ultimate beneficiary is the people of South Africa, and strengthening and enhancing the economy of our country,” the President said.
He said the reforms being implemented are laying a robust foundation for sustained economic and social progress.
“We have noted calls for programmes to involve young unemployed people in various forms of work, training and development. Contrary to some suggestions in the debate, we do have such programmes.
“These include the successful National Rural Youth Service Corps programme – known as NARYSEC – which provides opportunities to unemployed rural youth. We also spoke yesterday about other public and social employment programmes that have a large number of young participants.
“The challenge we have now is to scale up these programmes within available resources to ensure that they have a greater reach and impact,” the President said.
Size of the Executive
On the matter of the size of the Executive, the President said at this moment in South Africa’s history, the country faces complex and urgent challenges, which require strong coordination from the centre of government.
“While we continue to seek ways to use the resources of the state optimally, we have also had to ensure that we achieve inclusivity and balance. We believe that this is important for ensuring governance outcomes that serve the interests of all South Africans.
“Most importantly, we will ensure that the machinery of government works efficiently, and that it is used to advance the people’s interests and improve their lives.
“We will ensure that we reduce waste, rationalise and restructure our state-owned entities, and continue to direct the majority of our budget towards sustaining the social wage and investing in infrastructure,” the President said.
He said now more than ever, government must demonstrate what the people of South Africa can achieve when they work together.
“We must seize the opportunity that this Government of National Unity presents to restore these people’s trust in our democracy, and to realise the promise of dignity and equality that is contained in our Constitution.
“Five years from now, let us be able to say that we have made a difference in the lives of our people. Let us ensure that we take our beautiful country closer to the society of which we have all dreamed. And let us make sure that we leave no-one behind,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 07/24/2024 - 15:32
The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, held a telephonic courtesy call with his US counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Kurt M Campbell, yesterday, 23 July 2024.
The main purpose of the teleconference was for the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Campbell, to congratulate Deputy Minister Botes on his re-appointment as the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and to reaffirm the close relations between the United States and South Africa.
The Deputy Minister and his counterpart also briefly discussed numerous important geo-political and economic issues which included, amongst others:
Both Deputy Minister Botes and Deputy Secretary of State Campbell reiterated their commitment to strengthening our trade and investment relations.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister Botes and Deputy Secretary of State Campbell agreed to work together to find lasting solutions to the Russia-Ukraine and Palestine-Israeli conflicts.
Deputy Ministers Botes and Deputy Secretary Campbell agreed to have more deeper and structured engagements in the near future in respect of the issues discussed.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
In the realm of prepaid water metering, two main technologies dominate the market: ultrasonic water meters and traditional mechanical water meters. Each type comes with its own set of features, advantages, and disadvantages. In this article Straton Prepaid aims to provide a comprehensive comparison between the two, focusing specifically on their relevance to the South …
Opera UCT in cape Town have been awarded the prestigious honour of the World Premiere Staging of Donizetti’s rediscovered opera ‘Dalinda’. Opera UCT, the University of Cape Town (UCT) Opera School’s performance company, will present fully staged performances of Gaetano Donizetti’s ‘lost’ opera, ‘Dalinda’ at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town, 4 – 8 September 2024. …
Chris Pike, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said: At 06h45, Tuesday, 23 July, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a man missing in the Kowie River Mouth, Port Alfred. A commercial fishing ski-boat, reportedly while launching to go to sea, through the Kowie River Mouth, after breaching over an incoming wave …
The Hollywood Foundation is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the upcoming Manqoba Mngqithi Foundation tournament, aimed at fostering youth sports development in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal. The tournament, scheduled for 27 July 2024, at the Umzimkhulu Turf Ground, promises to be a pivotal event for local youth football. The Manqoba Mngqithi Foundation, founded by esteemed coach …
South Africa welcomes the declaration of unity between various Palestinian groups and their stated intention to constitute an interim national unity reconciliation government. Palestinian unity has the capacity to bring Palestinians closer to achieving the core objectives of the Palestinian cause: self-determination, freedom, justice, peace and the establishment of an independent, sovereign and prosperous Palestinian state.
Our own struggle for a free, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, united, undivided and prosperous South Africa instructs unity as the foundation of our collective strength, resilience and achievement.
It is through unity and solidarity that the Palestinian people can effectively confront the challenges of occupation and oppression, and work towards the realisation of their national aspirations. The declaration issued signals a commitment to overcome past divisions and advance towards a shared vision and future.
South Africa commends the various Palestinian groups, their leaders and representatives who have chosen the path of dialogue, national reconciliation and common action in pursuit of the undoubtedly just Palestinian cause.
South Africa further remains committed to the two-state solution and a free Palestine. As we express our continued solidarity and unwavering support, we look forward to the positive impact that Palestinian unity and national reconciliation will bring, fostering hope and driving meaningful change. Let this be the dawn of a new era where the collective aspirations for freedom, justice and self-determination of the Palestinian people are fully realised.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Transnet granted R18.85 billion loan
The African Development Bank Group has approved a R18.85 billion ($1 billion) corporate loan to Transnet for its recovery and growth plans.
Transnet has faced operational challenges mainly in the critical rail and port businesses resulting from underinvestment in infrastructure and equipment, theft and vandalism, and external shocks such as floods and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We appreciate the support demonstrated by the African Development Bank. The loan extended by the bank will make a significant contribution to Transnet’s capital investment plan to stabilise and improve the rail network and to contribute to the broader South African economy.
“The accompanying grant funding to the loan will also greatly assist Transnet with its energy efficiency efforts and with Infrastructure Project Preparation initiatives,” Group Chief Executive of Transnet Michelle Phillips said.
The 25-year loan, which was approved by the African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors on 12 July 2024 is fully guaranteed by the government of South Africa.
It will facilitate the first phase of the company’s R152.8 billion ($8. 1 billion) five-year capital investment plan to improve its existing capacity ahead of expansion for the priority segments throughout the transport value chain.
“The company is committed to addressing past challenges, fostering integrity, and enhancing efficiency within the organization. It has made progress in some key areas, including reforms in governance procurement and financial management,” a joint statement by Transnet and the African Development Bank said.
Recovery Plan
In October 2023, Transnet launched its recovery plan, which seeks to rehabilitate infrastructure and accelerate the relaunch of operations over 18 months, focusing on restoring operational performance and freight volumes to meet customer demands.
“Transnet, the custodian of South Africa's critical transport and logistics infrastructure, plays an indispensable role in the economy of the country, ensuring a competitive freight system and serving as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
“Our partnership will enable Transnet to execute a comprehensive Recovery Plan (RP), addressing operational inefficiencies, particularly in rail and port sectors. It is aligned with South Africa’s strategic 'Roadmap for Freight Logistics System,' and overseen by the National Logistics Crisis Committee, chaired at the Presidency level.
"This initiative signifies our commitment to enhancing national logistics capabilities and driving sustainable economic growth,” African Development Bank’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation Solomon Quaynor said.
Transnet has been a client of the African Development Bank since 2010. The company employs more than 50 000 people and plays a critical role in integrating and connecting South Africa with the global economy.
The company’s freight system’s activities contribute significantly to South Africa’s economy.
Its operations serve as key gateways for trade within South Africa and with landlocked countries in the region, such as Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo through the Port of Durban. –SAnews.gov.za
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Wed, 07/24/2024 - 12:25
@Sandton Hotel is thrilled to announce the launch of its exclusive Chef’s Table experience in a newly transformed private dining room, located in the heart of our exquisite wine storage area. This modern, eclectically finished space provides an intimate setting for up to eight guests, offering an unparalleled dining experience curated by Executive Chef Tony …